Queanbeyan Netball Association's Kylie Maxwell and local players are looking forward to this weekend's Representative Carnival. Photo: Kim Pham.
Local players will have the home court advantage at this weekend's Representative Carnival. Photo: Kim Pham.
Local players will have the home court advantage at this weekend's Representative Carnival. Photo: Kim Pham.
QUEANBEYAN Netball Association is set to host their first major junior representative carnival in more than 15 years provided the rain promises to stay away this weekend.
Last year's tournament, where more than 50 representative teams were set to play, was cancelled because of heavy rains.
The big wet left some regional teams stranded by flood waters and local courts too slippery and unsafe for play to commence.
2013 representative coordinator Kylie Maxwell said the weather is the last thing on her mind, the local association is just hoping to put on an impressive tournament this year.
"We've had a look at the weather and it looks fine, we're not even thinking about it," she said.
Queanbeyan Netball Association is expecting 45 teams to participate from Eurobodalla, Young, Goulburn, Sapphire Coast, Yass, Wagga Wagga and Canberra.
Maxwell said being the first tournament of the year there is a lot of pressure on the players to put in a good on-court performance.
It will be particularly challenging for the younger players with many of them yet to experience the demands of a carnival.
"It's the first carnival on the NSW Representative calendar so a lot of teams use it for trial purposes," Maxwell said. "I guess it's used as a bit of a yardstick so we want the carnival to be great.
"The standard is very good, the girls are really enthusiastic. They're vying for a possible spot on the rep team so this is it. It's make or break time."
Maxwell said coaches would be looking at the player's fitness, court positioning, passing, stepping, defending, mental toughness and good sportsmanship.
"Once teams are selected we will be attending several carnivals over the coming months throughout NSW in preparation for State Age to be held in June at Baulkham Hills and Campbelltown," Maxwell said.
A home-hosted carnival will be a reprieve for local players who are more accustomed to getting up before the crack of dawn to travel interstate for tournaments. Maxwell said they'll certianly have a bit of an edge over their competitors.
"It's will be an advantage for the girls not to have to get up at 3am to travel, which means the girls are fresh [before play]," Maxwell said. "We have the home ground advantage, we know the court and they're comfortable playing here.
"Having the opportunity to hold it here is great for the team and great for Queanbeyan. We're able to show off the quality of the sport facilities and players in our own town."
Competition will kick off on Sunday, March 3 at the Queanbeyan Netball Courts on Thornton Road from 8.30am to 4pm.